System and Method for Extracting and Collecting Substances from a Molecular Combination

ABSTRACT

A system and process are provided for extracting a substance from a molecular combination. The process comprises heating the molecular combination to dissociate the molecular combination into cations and anions, moving the cations and anions through a magnetic field to separate cations and anions, and isolating cations from anions with a barrier. The system comprises a non-conductive conduit for guiding an ionized particle stream, a magnetic field source for creating a magnetic field through which the ionized particle stream moves, and a barrier located in the conduit. The ionized particle stream has a velocity relative to the conduit, and the magnetic field source is oriented relative to the velocity of the ionized particle stream so that cations are separated from anions as the ionized particle stream moves through the magnetic field. The barrier is oriented in the conduit so that cations are isolated from anions after separation.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/914,165 filed Jun. 10, 2013 and entitled “System and Method forExtracting and Collecting Substances From a Molecular Combination” whichis a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/363,868 filed Feb. 1,2012 and entitled “System and Method for Extracting and CollectingSubstances From a Molecular Combination”, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,460,634which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/459,546 filedJul. 24, 2006 and entitled “System and Method for Extracting andCollecting Substances From a Molecular Combination”, now U.S. Pat. No.8,110,175.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates in general to energy production, and moreparticularly, to a system and process for extracting and collectingsubstances from a molecular combination.

BACKGROUND

The worldwide demand for energy continues to increase at a rapid pace,while concern about the stability of fossil fuel supplies also continuesto grow. Consequently, both the cost of fossil fuels and the push foralternative fuels also have increased dramatically. The push foralternative fuels, though, is also partially driven by growing concernsover the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels to produce energy.

Hydrogen and hydrogen-powered fuel cells are widely viewed as apromising source of clean, reliable energy. According to some estimates,the potential market value for fuel cells is more than $100 billion.Currently, though, hydrogen-based technologies are still in theirinfancy. The cost of making fuel cells is still high, as is the cost ofhydrogen production. Moreover, most current hydrogen productionprocesses themselves have unfavorable environmental consequences.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved systems and processes forproducing hydrogen and other fuels.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, disadvantages and problemsassociated with the complexity and environmental impact of energyproduction have been substantially reduced or eliminated.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a process isprovided for extracting a substance from a molecular combination. Theprocess comprises heating the molecular combination to dissociate themolecular combination into cations and anions, moving the cations andanions through a magnetic field to separate the cations and the anions,and isolating the cations from the anions with a barrier.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a systemis provided for extracting a substance from a molecular combination ofatoms. The system comprises a non-conductive conduit for guiding anionized particle stream having cations and anions, a magnetic fieldsource for creating a magnetic field through which the ionized particlestream moves, and a barrier located in the conduit. The ionized particlestream has a velocity relative to the conduit, and the magnetic fieldsource is oriented relative to the velocity of the ionized particlestream so that cations are separated from anions as the ionized particlestream moves through the magnetic field. The barrier is oriented in theconduit so that cations are isolated from anions after separation.

Various embodiments of the invention provide important advantages overknown systems and processes. For example, certain embodiments may beused to provide an efficient means for extracting hydrogen. Moreover,these embodiments have few, if any, moving parts. Accordingly, theyprovide a very reliable and cost effective operation.

Certain embodiments also significantly reduce or eliminate theenvironmental costs associated with many known hydrogen productionmeans.

Other technical advantages of the present invention may be readilyapparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures,descriptions, and claims. Moreover, while specific advantages have beenenumerated above, various embodiments may include all, some, or none ofthe enumerated advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram that illustrates a top viewcross-section of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram that illustrates a side viewcross-section of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a process embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a simple block diagram that illustrates an alternativeembodiment of the invention in which reactors are combined.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram that illustrates a top viewcross-section of one embodiment of a system for extracting ionizedparticles from a molecular combination. In such an embodiment, a reactor2 comprises a conduit 4, a barrier 6, and exhaust ports 8 and 10. AsFIG. 1 illustrates, reactor 2 also may be coupled to a heat source 12,electrodes 14, and cooling system 15. A conductor 16 typically connectselectrodes 14. A system comprising a reactor 2 and a heat source 12 isreferred to herein generally as a generator system 17. Generator system17 may further include optional components such as electrodes 14,cooling system 15, and conductor 16.

Conduit 4 is generally comprised of an electrically insulated(non-conductive) material capable of maintaining structural integrity attemperatures generally between 3000 F and 14,000 F, or higher forcertain applications. Examples of material suitable for conduit 4include, without limitation, fused quartz, high-temperature ceramics,and glass.

Likewise, barrier 6 generally is a physical barrier comprised of anon-conductive material capable of maintaining structural integrity athigh temperatures. As FIG. 1 illustrates, such a physical embodiment mayhave a triangular cross-section, oriented such that the apex is upstreamof the base. Examples of material suitable for barrier 6 include,without limitation, fused quartz, high-temperature ceramics, and glass.

Heat source 12 represents any source or system having sufficient heatingcapability to dissociate the operative molecular combination (e.g.,approximately 3000 F for water). Heat source 12 may comprise, withoutlimitation, a solar-powered heat source, an electric arc, or nuclearheat source.

Conductor 16 represents any electrically conductive material thatprovides a current path between electrodes 14. Conductor 16 may bemetallic or non-metallic. Examples of suitable metallic conductorsinclude, without limitation, wires comprised of copper, silver, or gold.

Cooling system 15 represents any passive or active system or apparatusfor cooling or refrigeration. Examples of suitable structures forcooling include, without limitation, water jackets, dry ice, alcohol,and peltier devices. Similar cooling systems may be coupled to conduit 4and barrier 6 for cooling during operation.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram that illustrates a side viewcross-section of the system of FIG. 1. As FIG. 2 illustrates, opposingmagnets 18 are placed in proximity to conduit 4 to create a magneticfield B across conduit 4.

Magnets 18 represent any type of permanent magnet or electromagnet.Examples of permanent magnets that are suitable for operation in reactor2 include rare earth magnets, which include neodymium magnets. Magnets18 may produce a static or dynamic magnetic field B across conduit 4.Examples of suitable dynamic fields include, without limitation, anyrotating (sinusoidal), synchronized, or pulsed magnetic field.

In operation, a stream of molecules 20 moves through heat source 12,where it is dissociated into ionized particles and exits heat source 8as a stream of cations (positively charged ions) and anions 24(negatively charged ions) having a velocity V relative to conduit 4.According to well-known principles of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), theionized particles will experience an induced electric field that isperpendicular to the magnetic field. The induced electric field impartsa force F on each ionized particle. Accordingly, cations 22 and anions24 are separated as the ionized particle stream moves through themagnetic field and the induced electric field deflects cations 22 andanions 24 in opposite directions. Barrier 6 is positioned in conduit 4sufficiently far downstream to isolate cations 22 and anions 24 inseparate channels after separating them in the magnetic field.

In one embodiment, electrodes 14 and conductor 16 provide a means fordissipating charges from the ionized particles. Dissipating charge afterseparating and isolating the ionized particles discourages particlesfrom attracting each other and moving upstream once they have beenisolated, thereby enhancing the performance of the reactor. Moreover,such an embodiment is capable of generating an electric current as aby-product of the extraction process.

After isolating cations 22 and anions 24, the particles may be cooled torecombine the particles into neutral atoms and molecular combinations,such as particles 26 and 28. This cooling may be passive, allowing theparticles to dissipate heat naturally as they move away from the effectsof heat source 12, or the cooling may be active, accelerating thecooling process through external influences. Particles 26 and 28 maythen be collected in separate cooling and compression units well-knownin the art, as they exit their respective exhaust ports.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the operation of the system on the molecularcombination commonly known as water. Water, of course, is comprised oftwo hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom. Thus, in such an operation, heatsource 12 dissociates the water molecules into hydrogen cations 22 andoxygen anions 24. The dissociated ionized particles are then separatedas they pass through the magnetic field B. More particularly, theinduced positive electric force F+ deflects the hydrogen cations 22towards one wall of conduit 4, while the negative electric force F−deflects the oxygen anions towards the opposite wall of conduit 4.Barrier 6 then isolates hydrogen cations 22 from the oxygen anions asthey continue to move through conduit 4, thereby preventing the hydrogenand oxygen from recombining. The hydrogen cations 22 cool as theycontinue moving towards exhaust port 8. As the hydrogen cations 22 cool,they recombine to form diatomic hydrogen molecules 26. Likewise, oxygenanions 24 also cool as they continue moving towards exhaust port 10,isolated from hydrogen cations 22, and form diatomic oxygen molecules28. Consequently, hydrogen molecules 26 and oxygen molecules 28 may becollected separately as each exits conduit 4 through exhaust ports 8 and10, respectively.

Although FIGS. 1 and 2 demonstrate operation of an embodiment of theinvention in conjunction with water, the principles of the system may beapplied broadly to a variety of input compositions. Such inputcompositions may be varied to alter the composition of particles 26 and28, or to produce additional substances. For example, molecularcombinations that include carbon atoms may be used in conjunction withother substances having hydrogen (including water) to producehydrocarbons. In one particular example, water may be combined withcarbon dioxide. The heat source then dissociates the substance intohydrogen cations, carbon cations, and oxygen anions. The result is astream of diatomic hydrogen particles and methane gas emerging fromexhaust port 8, and oxygen from exhaust port 10. The stream may becollected and filtered as desired, using structures and processes thatare well-known in the art.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a process embodiment of theinvention. As in FIGS. 1 and 2, this process is depicted with referenceto water as the operative molecular combination, but the principlesdescribed are applicable to a wide variety of molecular combinations. Inparticular, the process contemplates operation in conjunction withmolecular combinations that include hydrogen atoms, carbon atoms, orboth. An example of such a combination includes, without limitation,carbonic acid (a solution of carbon dioxide in water).

Referring to FIG. 3 for illustration, heat source is applied tomolecular combination 20, which dissociates molecular combination (step100). The resulting stream of hydrogen cations 22 and oxygen anionscontinues to move through conduit 4 with a velocity V. Magnetic field Bthen is applied to the stream of hydrogen cations 22 and oxygen anions24 as it moves through conduit 4. Magnetic field B in turn induces anelectric field that separates cations 22 from anions 24 (step 102). Morespecifically, the electric field imparts a force F that pushes cations22 and anions 24 in opposite directions within conduit 4. As the streamcontinues to move through conduit 4, the separated cations 22 and anions24 move past barrier 6. Barrier 6 represents any structure or systemoperable to prevent cations 22 and anions 24 from recombining intomolecular combination 20 after the streams are separated, as illustratedin FIG. 1. Thus, barrier 6 effectively isolates hydrogen cations 22 fromoxygen anions 24 into separate particle streams after separation (step104). As the separate particle streams cool (either as the result ofpassive or active cooling), hydrogen cations 22 combine into diatomichydrogen particles 26 and oxygen anions 24 combine to form diatomicoxygen particles 28. Hydrogen particles 26 and oxygen particles 28 thenare collected separately (step 106) for subsequent storage, transport,or further processing.

FIG. 4 is a simple block diagram that illustrates an alternativeembodiment of the invention in which reactors are combined to expand thesystem and/or refine the process. For example, two or more reactors 2may be connected in series so that streams from one or both exhaustports of a first system feed directly into the conduit of a secondsystem. Alternatively, one such stream may be recycled and redirected tofeed into the first system or an intermediate system as part of theoperative molecular combination.

Although the present invention has been described with severalembodiments, a myriad of changes, variations, alterations,transformations, and modifications may be suggested to one skilled inthe art, and it is intended that the present invention encompass suchchanges, variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications asfall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for extracting a substance from a molecular combination, the process comprising: heating the molecular combination to dissociate the molecular combination into cations and anions; moving the cations and anions through a magnetic field to separate the cations and the anions; and isolating the cations from the anions with a barrier.
 2. The process of claim 1, further comprising conducting a current between the cations and the anions.
 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the molecular combination includes a hydrogen atom and the cations include hydrogen cations.
 4. The process of claim 3, further comprising cooling the isolated hydrogen cations to form diatomic hydrogen.
 5. The process of claim 3, wherein the molecular combination is a water molecule, the cations include hydrogen cations, and the anions include oxygen anions.
 6. The process of claim 1, wherein the molecular combination includes a hydrogen atom and a carbon atom, and the cations include hydrogen cations and carbon cations.
 7. The process of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is static.
 8. The process of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is dynamic.
 9. The process of claim 8, wherein the magnetic field is rotating.
 10. The process of claim 8, wherein the magnetic field is synchronized.
 11. The process of claim 7, wherein the magnetic field is pulsed.
 12. The process of claim 1, wherein the molecular combination is a water molecule, the cations include hydrogen cations, the anions include oxygen anions, and the process further comprises: conducting a current between the hydrogen cations and the oxygen anions; cooling the isolated hydrogen cations to form diatomic hydrogen; and collecting the diatomic hydrogen.
 13. A system for extracting a substance from a molecular combination, the system comprising: a non-conductive conduit for guiding an ionized particle stream having cations and anions, the ionized particle stream having a velocity relative to the conduit; a magnetic field source for creating a magnetic field through which the ionized particle stream moves, the magnetic field source oriented relative to the velocity of the ionized particle stream so that cations are separated from anions as the ionized particle stream moves through the magnetic field; and a barrier located in the conduit so that cations are isolated from anions after separation.
 14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a current path between cations and anions so that electrons are transferred from anions to cations after separation.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the magnetic field source is an electromagnet.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the magnetic field source is a permanent magnet.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the permanent magnet is a rare earth magnet.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the rare earth magnet is a neodymium magnet.
 19. The system of claim 13, wherein the cations include hydrogen cations.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the anions include oxygen anions.
 21. The system of claim 19, wherein the cations further include carbon cations.
 22. The system of claim 13, further comprising a heat source coupled to the conduit for producing the ionized particle stream from the molecular combination.
 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the heat source is a solar heat source.
 24. The system of claim 22, wherein the heat source is an electric arc.
 25. The system of claim 22, wherein the heat source is a nuclear heat source.
 26. The system of claim 20 further comprising: a cooling element for cooling the cations and anions to form diatomic hydrogen and diatomic oxygen after the cations are isolated from the anions; and a collector coupled to an exhaust port of the conduit for collecting the diatomic hydrogen.
 27. The system of claim 13, wherein the barrier is a physical barrier.
 28. The system of claim 26, wherein the physical barrier is comprised of fused quartz.
 29. A system for extracting a substance from a molecular combination, the system comprising: a first reactor system coupled in series to a second rector system; wherein each reactor system comprises a non-conductive conduit for guiding an ionized particle stream having cations and anions, the ionized particle stream having a velocity relative to the conduit; a magnetic field source for creating a magnetic field through which the ionized particle stream moves, the magnetic field source oriented relative to the velocity of the ionized particle stream so that cations are separated from anions as the ionized particle stream moves through the magnetic field; a barrier located in the conduit so that cations are isolated from anions after separation; and a cooling system coupled to the conduit for cooling cations and anions to form a first and second molecular combination after the cations are isolated from the anions; and wherein the first molecular combination of the first reactor system is directed into the conduit of the second reactor system.
 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the second molecular combination is directed into the conduit of the first reactor system.
 31. A system for extracting hydrogen from water, the system comprising: means for heating the water to dissociate the water into hydrogen cations and oxygen anions; means for separating the hydrogen cations from the oxygen anions; means for dissipating charge from the hydrogen cations and the oxygen anions; means for isolating the hydrogen cations from the oxygen anions after separation; means for cooling the hydrogen cations to form diatomic hydrogen; and means for collecting the diatomic hydrogen.
 32. A method for extracting hydrogen from water, the method comprising: heating the water to dissociate the water into hydrogen cations and oxygen anions; separating the hydrogen cations from the oxygen anions; dissipating charge from the hydrogen cations and the oxygen anions; isolating the hydrogen cations from the oxygen anions after separation; cooling the hydrogen cations to form diatomic hydrogen; and collecting the diatomic hydrogen. 